Low cost storage technologies for grain
Hermetic bags are air-tight which prevents oxygen and moisture from getting to the grain stored within them. A multi-layer technology is used to modify the environment and restrict gas exchange with the outside atmosphere. Under this system, farmers can store grains for up to two years while retaining their palatability and cooking quality. This ensures that farmers have enough to eat in between harvests and can sell their beans when the price is more favorable. Grain quality is conserved through the regulation of moisture inside the bag and inhibits fungal growth that lead to build-up of carcinogenic mycotoxins. The cooking time of grains preserved in hermetically sealed bags remains the same as freshly dried ones whereas loss of moisture in traditional storage techniques may double the amount of time and energy that is needed for preparing grains as food. A germination test is recommended for the beans stored in hermitic bags if they are intended to be used as planting material.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Bag cost for users
Reduction of loss
Bag capacity
Life span
Trademark
Significant post-harvest losses: Farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa face losses exceeding 25% due to improper storage techniques. Traditional storage methods, like regular bags and silos, fail to prevent pest infestations and spoilage, leading to substantial grain loss.
Pest infestations: Pests like weevils, moths, and mites damage stored beans, forcing farmers to sell their crops immediately after harvest at low prices to avoid further losses.
Fungal contamination: Traditional storage methods often allow for the development of fungi such as aflatoxin, which contaminates beans, posing health risks and lowering the quality of stored grain.
Reduced food security: Without effective storage, farmers struggle to keep enough beans for consumption between harvests. This problem threatens both food security and livelihoods.
For Manufacturers:
The production of PICS hermetic bags for grain preservation offers farmers a cost-effective, safe, and efficient solution to prevent losses due to inadequate storage at small-scale levels.
To succeed, identify reliable suppliers for manufacturing machines and secure necessary raw materials, such as plastic sheets and woven polypropylene bags.
Potential Customers: Your customer base includes wholesale distributors of hermetic bags to retailers, development projects, government agencies, and NGOs.
Building strong partnerships with wholesale distributor networks and suppliers of machinery and raw materials is key to your business success.
Cost Structure: The initial investment for a bag manufacturing machine is about $25,000 USD. Details about raw material costs and labor expenses are location-dependent and need to be collected for your business plan.
For Resellers:
Selling hermetic bags provides a valuable product and fosters closer engagement with users while reducing reliance on insecticides during grain storage.
To navigate this market, know where to source hermetic bags in bulk, identify efficient transportation methods, and explore suitable storage facilities.
Potential Customers: Your customer base includes small local retailers, development projects, producers, and producer cooperatives or associations.
Establish strong partnerships with hermetic bag manufacturers and transportation providers.
Cost Structure: Details will be available soon.
For Users:
Utilizing PICS hermetic bags for storage guarantees the integrity of grains, ensuring they are free from aflatoxin and insecticide residues, all at an affordable cost. These bags help save on expenses associated with purchasing chemical pesticides.
Key Partners: You need sellers of hermetic bags.
Cost Structure: The unit bag price is set at $1-1.5 USD.
Estimate the profit realized with the use of the bag; more details will be available soon.
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
Adults, especially farmers, are the primary users of PICS bags and experience significant positive impacts. Reduced post-harvest losses lead to higher income, food security, and reduced dependency on chemical pesticides, promoting better health. This directly improves their livelihoods and economic stability, making the impact highly positive.
The poor: Positive high
The poor experience a high positive impact as PICS bags provide an affordable way to prevent grain losses. This improves food security and helps them save money on pesticides, offering an economic lifeline. As post-harvest losses can be devastating for low-income families, this technology helps maximize their limited resources, justifying the high positive rating.
Under 18: Positive low
The impact on children under 18 is indirect but positive. While they don’t directly use the technology, they benefit from improved food security at home. As families experience fewer post-harvest losses, the risk of hunger decreases, and the household may have more resources for children's needs.
Women: Positive medium
Women benefit moderately from PICS bags, particularly in households where they handle food storage. The technology reduces their workload related to pest control and provides a safe, chemical-free storage option, improving health. However, the extent of the impact depends on their involvement in agriculture and food storage activities, making it moderate rather than high.
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
PICS bags work well across various climates, protecting grains from spoilage and pests in extreme weather.
Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement
They help farmers preserve grain despite climate variability, reducing losses but not directly addressing climate disasters.
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Reduced pesticide use benefits local ecosystems, though the overall effect on biodiversity is small.
Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released
Lower emissions than traditional fumigation methods, but overall reduction in carbon is minor.
Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health
Reduces chemical use, improving soil, water, and overall environmental health.
Country | Testing ongoing | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|---|
Benin | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Burkina Faso | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Burundi | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Cameroon | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Central African Republic | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Côte d’Ivoire | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Gabon | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Ghana | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Kenya | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Malawi | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Mozambique | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Rwanda | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Senegal | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
South Sudan | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Tanzania | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Uganda | –No ongoing testing | Tested | –Not adopted |
Zambia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | ||||
Humid |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
By reducing the need for chemical pesticides, PICS bags lower exposure to harmful substances, promoting better health and well-being.
PICS bags prevent post-harvest losses, improving food availability and security for smallholder farmers, directly supporting efforts to end hunger.
The bags support sustainable grain storage practices, reducing waste and enabling long-term food preservation, contributing to responsible resource management.
PICS bags indirectly support climate resilience by helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and reducing food loss, though their direct impact on climate mitigation is limited.
Reduced use of pesticides promotes healthier ecosystems, indirectly supporting biodiversity and environmental health by preserving the quality of soil and land.
Purchase Genuine PICS Bags: Buy hermetic bags from recognized vendors. Ensure they are not counterfeit.
Prepare the Beans: Harvest and thresh the beans. Dry the beans to a moisture level of about 12-14% to reduce the risk of infestation and maintain seed viability.
Inspect the Bags: Separate the two inner polyethylene bags and the outer woven polypropylene bag. Check the inner liners for holes or tears. Do not use damaged bags.
Fill the Inner Bags: Pour a small amount of dried beans into the first inner bag. This helps insert the inner bag into the second liner more easily. Fill the first inner bag while gently shaking to eliminate air pockets, leaving a lip at the top for sealing.
Seal the Inner Bags: Twist the lip of the first inner bag to remove excess air, fold it over, and tie it securely. Tuck the knot inside the first bag and repeat this process for the second inner bag.
Place in the Outer Bag: Insert both sealed inner bags into the outer woven polypropylene bag. Tie the outer bag securely to protect the inner bags.
Store the Bags: Place the sealed PICS bags in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight or extreme heat. Store them on elevated platforms to minimize rodent attacks. Ensure the bags remain sealed during storage. If any grain needs to be removed, press out excess air before resealing.
Regular Inspection: Inspect the PICS bags at least once a month to check for any signs of damage or pest activity.
Reuse the Bags: PICS bags can be reused for multiple seasons (typically up to three), provided they remain intact.
Last updated on 1 October 2024